thurston



H. THURSTON- THEATRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1918.

1 24,630. Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET liillq I 5] muewfoz l e/44 20 f y/array H; IHURSTON.

THEATHICM. APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1918.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITE srrns HOWARD THURSTON, 0F BEECHHURST, NEW YORK.

THEATRICAL APPARATUS.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed July 31, 1918. Serial No. 247,489.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HowAnn TnUns'roN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Beechhurst,'in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Theatrical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention pertains more particularly to stage apparatus by means of which the illusionary effects indicating the travel of vehicles may be produced, the vehicles themselves however having only a limited travel directly on the stage and in a direction toward the audience.

I have presented my invention in. this application as embodied in an illusionary production of a race between an automobile and a motorcycle, the scene indicating a mountainous or rural region and a railway station to which the vehicles are apparently traveling. o

In its preferred form the apparatus of my invention comprises a stage, a rear plain curtain or dark background, an intermediate curtain on which is pictured a rural scene, a front curtain concealing the stage when the operator so desires, an imitation railway station and camp fire located toward the front portion of the stage and between the front and intermediate curtains, two platforms between the intermediate and back curtains and on which attendants may stand and manipulate lighting effects, and two vehicles normally below said platforms and resting on the stage and adapted to be'moved toward the front of the stage when the occasion arises, the lights held by the attendants on the said platforms being intended, at the proper time, to be hooked upon the vehicles, so that as the vehicles are pushed toward the front of the stage they may have the appearance of having traveled to some considerable extent.

The invention will be fully; understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which; V

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a stage and incidental features constituting a portion of my invention,',the front curtain being omitted and' the intermediate curtain bearing the rural scene being shown in its dropped position; Fig. 2 is a like view of the same, with the intermediate curtain in its upper orconplish;

the lamps so as to cealed' position exposing the platforms, the follicles underneath the same and the attendants on the platforms holding the lamps to be finally applied to said vehicles when the latter are to be pushed toward the front of the stage;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly broken away, through a stage equipped with'the ourtainsand other paraphernalia embodying my invention,'the cur tains being shown in their lower position and all of the features being arranged to carry out the illusionary etl'ectsl design to accom- Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the two lamps to be applied at the proper time to the vehicle representing an automobile, I said lamps being shown in their separated position with the iris diaphragmsshown in their wide open position, Fig. a'representing the lamps as having beenopened out by'the attendant on one of the platforms preparatory to the application'of the same to theauto nobile; s

Fig. 5- is'a like view of the same showing the lamps in theircontiguous relation. with tion, this being the condition of the lamps w 'en first exposed by the attendant on the platform and before he manually separates produce the effect of approaching lights; Y o

Fig. 6 is a top view of the lamps shown in Fig. 4 and illustrates the electric circuits for the lamps, and

the iris diaphragms in nearly closed'posi Fig. 7' is a top view of the lamp intended for the motor cycle, the electriccircuit being indicated. v

In the drawings, 10 designates an elevated stage or platform such as commonly found in theaters and the like, 11 a front drop curtain, 12 an intermediate drop curtain, andl'3 a back curtain which maybe stationary. Upon the stage '10 and between the ourtains 11 and 12 I preferably provide an imitation railway station'ltand a camp the 15, which maybe of gaslogs capable of emitting flames, as shown The imitatlon'railwa-y StittlOIl,IOlCl-l1OUSB or the like 14 maybe of any suitable design and is provided with windows 16 facing theaudience. lVithin the house lat I provide means.

suchas an electriclighting outfit 17, for 1 lighting the house and emitting rays of light toward the audience, the purpose of the lighting outfit 17 and the camp fire 1 5 being to attract the attention of the audience and thus facilitatethe performance of the illusionary effects of the travel of the vehicles, as hereinafter explained. The house 14 and camp-fire 15 will preferably be located at opposite sides of the stage 10, as shown.

The front curtain 11 may be of any suitable character, and the back curtain 13 may be of dark material. The intermediate curtain 12 will have depicted on it a scene of 'al. or mountainous nature, as shown in 1, indicating roads along which vehiinay travel downwardly toward the audience.

In tne preferred construction and arrangement of my invention 1 provide intermediate the curtains 12. 13 and mounted on the stage 10, two platforms 18, 19 upon which attendants 20, 21, respectively, may stand and underneath V which may be disposed vehicles of suitable character, those employed in the present instance being a motorcycle 22 and an automobile 23. The motorcycle 22 and automobile 23 will be of imitation character but capable of holding drivers and having the general appearance of genuine vehicles, as the drawings indicate.

The attendants 20. 21 are to handle and manipulate lights to be of increasing brilliancy, at certain stage of the performance, for application to the vehicles 23, which will be equipped with hooks or the like to receive the light emitting means from the attendants 20, 21, the hook on the motorcycle 22 being indicated at 24. and the hooks for the apparatus controlled by the attendant 21 being indicated at c- When a motorcycle 22 is employed there will be a single lamp .26 made use of, as indicated in Fig. 7, and when an automobile 23 constitutes a portion of the apparatus, the lighting outfit therefor will comprise two corresponding lamps 27 as being more appropriate for an automobile than a single headlight. The two lamps 27 are provided with. the well known increasing and diminishing diaphragms 28 commonly known as iris diaphragms and familiar in the camera and other arts, and said lamps 27 are connected by two jointed levers 29 by which they may be spaced as shown in Fig. 4-, and drawn toward each other, as shown in Fig. 5, while at the same time maintaining their horizontal relation to each other. The diaphragm or sectional shutters 28 are operable from links 30 and crank arms 31 by which, in the well understood manner, the sections of the shutters or diaphra'gms 28 will open outwardly, during the separation of the lamps 27 as shown in Fig. 1, or close inwardly on the movement toward. each other of said lamps, as shown in Fig. the light exposure being increased during the separation of the lamps 27 and diminished during the movement toward each other of said lamps The lamps 27 will be of the customary electric type and the battery or batteries therefor 32 (Fig. 6) may be mounted on the automobile 23, and the wires from said battery and providing circuits for the lamps will be of loose wiring so that they may extend upwardly from the automobile to the lamps 27 while held by the attendant 21 standing on the platform 19. In Fig. 6 I illustrate the circuits for the lamps 2 and since these circuits are of the ordinary type connecting two ordinary lamps, they will be understood without special description. I provide in the circuits for the lamps 27 a switch 33 by which the attendant 21 on the platform 19 may cut in. or out more or less of the current and thus affect the brilliancy of the lights emitted by the lamps. It may be said here that in ordinary practice the lamps 27 will be dimmed both by the diaphragms 28 and restriction of current and that as the attendant 21 separates the lamps 27 to the position shown .inFigs. 2 and l, he will not only thereby through the link connections hereinbefore described open the diaphragms or shutters 28 to expose more light, but will also by the manipulation of the lever 33 increase the current, so that the elfeet on the audience is that the lamps 27 emit a light of greater brilliancy during the slow movement, by the attendant 21, of the lamps 27. The attendant 21 will not only more the lamps 27 from each other slowly, but will turn on the extra current by means of the switch or lever 33 slowly, so that the eilect on the audience is not only that of increasing brilliancy of the lamps 27, but, due to their separation, of creating the illusionary effect of the approach of the vehicle down a road or mountain side and toward the audience.

In Fig. 7 is a single lamp 26 for the 1uotorcycle 23 and the circuit for this lamp includes a battery 34: and; lever or switch 35, and the individual lamp 26 is identical with either one of the lamps 27, including the provision therein of a diphragm or iris shutter. The lamp 26 is employed exactly in the manner and for exactly the purpose as the lamps 27 and the single lamp 26 is made use of because of the character of the vehicle 22 to whiohit is to. be applied.

In the employment of the apparatus hereinbefore described, the camp fire 15 and lamp 17 are lighted, while the curtains 11, 12 are in their concealing position, and at this time also the usual stage lights will be in their usual lighted condition. After the campfire and lamp 17 have been lighted, the front curtain 11 will be raised and the usual stage lights lowered to some extent. The audience may then see the scene on the ourtain 12 and become impressed with the road outlines thereon. After a short time the usual stage lights and the lamp 17 are greatlycreate the effect of travel toward the audience. After the assistants have manipulated and lowered their lights to a proper cegree, the lights are placed 011 the vehicles and the vehicles are pushed toward the front-of the stage, after which the scene curtain '12 is piromptly lowered and the lamp 17 and stage lights are turned up to illuminate the stage and curtain 12, all of which impresses the audience with the effect of the travel of the vehicles some considerable distance along the roads depicted on the curtain 12. There may be a variation in the operation of the lamps 26, 27 and in the speed of the vehicles 22, 23, so as to create the effect of a race or one vehicle endeavoring to overtake the. other vehicle.

The back-ground 13 should be black and the attendants 20, 21 should be dressed in black and under these conditions, with the stage darkened and the mind of the audience preoccupied, the attendants may, while the curtain 12 is being raised, successfully increase the brilliancy of the lights from the lamps 26, 27 and at the same time lower said lamps in a way to indicate the approach of the lights through a considerable distance toward the audience before the lamps are actually hooked upon the vehicles 22, '23, which, upon receiving the lamps, will be moved with reasonable speed toward the front of the stage.

lVhat I claim as my invention and to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. Theatrical apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a stage, front, intermediate and back curtains therefor, a front lighting effect, a movable platform between the intermediate and back curtains for an assistant, a vehicle arranged adjacent to said platform and initially concealed by said intermediate curtain, a lamp to be operated to increasing brilliancy by desire lamp to said vehicle preparatory to'the' vehicle, on the raising of the intermediate cur tain, being moved toward the front of-the stage.

2. Theatrical apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a

stage, a movable curtain on which a scene is depicted, a movable platform at the back of said curtain for an assistant, a vehicle arranged adjacent to said platform and ini-z tially concealed by said curt-aim'a lamp to be operated to increasing brilliancy bysai'd assistant, and means for connecting said lamp to-said vehicle preparatory to the vehicle, on the raising of said curtain, being moved to the frontof the stage.

f5. Theatrical apparatus of-the character described, comprising, in combination, a

stage, a dark back-ground, a movable curtain on which a road-scene is depicted, a

movable platform at the-back of said curtain for an assistant, a vehicle arranged adj acent to said platform and initiallyconcealed by said curtain, a lamp to be operated to ,increasing billiancy by said assistant, and means'for connecting said lamp to said vehicle preparatory tothe vehicle, on theraisfront of the stage.

at. Theatrical apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a stage, front, intermediate and back curtains therefor, a lighting effect between the front and intermediate curtains, movable platforms for assistants between the intermediate and back curtains, vehicles normally located adjacent tosaid platforms and difiering incharacter and initially concealed by said intermediatecurtain, lamps to be operated to increasing brilliancy by said as sistants on the slow raising of said intermediate curtain, and means for connecting sald lamps to said vehicles preparatory to the vehicles being moved toward the front of the stage.

5. Theatrical apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a stage, a movable curtain on which a scene is depicted, a'lighting efiect at the front of said curtain, movable means at the back of ing of said curtain, being'moved toward the said curtain for supporting an assistant, a a vehicle at the back-of said curtain and mitially conceal edthereby, al'amp to be 0perated to increasing brilliancy by said assistant, and means for connecting said lamp to said vehicle preparatory to the vehicle, on

the raising of said curtain, being moved to stage, a movable curtain on which a scene is depicted, a lighting efiect at'the front of said curtain, movable means at the back of said curtain for supporting assistants, vehisaid assistant, and means for connectmg sald cles at the back of said curtain and initially concealedthereby, lamps to be operated to increasing brilliancy by said assistants dur v feet at the front of said curtain, movable platforms at the back of said curtain for assistants, vehicles under said platforms and initially concealed by said curtain, lamps to be operated to increasing brillianey by said assistants during the slow raising of said curtain, and means for connecting Said lamps to said Vehicles preparatory to the 'vehicles being moved to the front of the stage.

8. Theatrical apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a stage, a front curtain, an intermediate curtain on which ascene is depicted a dark back-ground, a lighting effect between said curtains, movable means at the back of said scene-curtain for supporting assistants, vehicles at the back of sand scene-curtain and init ally concealed thereby and differing 111 character, lamps to be operated to increasing brillianey by said assistants during the slow raising of said scene-curtain, and means for connecting said lamps to said vehicles preparatory to the vehicles being moved to Ward the front 01" the stage. I

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of July, A. D. 1918.

HOW'ARD THURSTON.

CHAS. C. GILL. 

